12.06.07
Review of Blue Ribbon Sushi (Manhattan), Saturday November 2007
119 Sullivan Street and Prince/Spring, 212-343-0404
Great for: getting trashed on sake before eating, impressing a date, romantic trysts, adventurous palates
The Boyfriend has been wanting to go here for quite a while, but I always remind him that they don’t take reservations. (Why do restaurants do that? It makes planning the night and setting tables efficiently much harder. Also, it drives some guests away. Maybe they want the extra bar money from people waiting.) This time we happened to have drink plans at 8 so it seemed like the perfect time to go and avoid a line. We got there about 6:45, and still found 2 parties in front of us – only had to wait about 20 minutes though.
We opted to splurge on the omakase, and the rock shrimp tempura as we were waiting the 15 minutes or so it took to make the former. The tempura was so good we fought over the last piece (nicely, of course). It wouldn’t hurt to make it twice the size. The omakase came on a large wooden platter, arranged with flair and looking very festive. We had sashimi of salmon, otoro (very fatty tuna), horse mackerel, jackfish, bluefish, yellowtail, flying fish, japanese sardine, giant clam and uni (sea urchin). We had sushi of tuna with scallion and salmon. The clam came in its giant shell, the uni sat on top of the spiny creature it was extracted from, and the remaining body of one of the fishes also graced the platter. Unfortunately, I think we overestimated the adventurousness of our palates – we liked the sushi best. I could tell the fish was amazing, but the jackfish and flying fish in particular were too chewy for us. The otoro was so fatty the meat and marbling were separate layers, which was a new experience for both of us, although the meat part was very tender and good. The more ordinary stuff like yellowtail and horse mackerel we enjoyed. They are very generous with the uni, so if you like it you’ll be happy. It’s a bit too soft for me. After we’d eaten most of the fish, the waiter took our fish body to fry up. That was very yummy.
I feel bad not raving about the omakase when it’s really my taste that’s unsophisticated. I had a very lovely birthday dinner there 2 years ago. I think I had the honoo platter, which had rolls and pieces, and was fantastic. I only started eating sushi 4 years ago so I’ve come a long way from “Eww raw!!” reactions. I would say we liked the more ordinary half of the platter very much. We were still a bit hungry after all that and decided on the shrimp shumai. When our very kind waiter came to clear the remains of our fish, he could tell we hadn’t loved it, so he told us the shumai was on the house. That was really awesome of him and restaurant policy. The dumplings were pretty great too.
We finished up with the green tea crème brûlée, which is fantastic. They make a nice thick crust of caramelized sugar over a creamy, yummy crème that’s perfectly balanced between the slight bitterness of green tea & some kind of sweetness. While we were waiting we had a glass each of Hanahato junmai “kwoshu” which was much darker than usual sake; it was quite strong and sweet. At dinner we got a bottle of Dewasansan junmai ginjo genshu which was $45 and also very enjoyable. It lasted us the whole meal in our little glasses. Our waiter suggested it – unless you know your sake, which I don’t, I would say you can leave it to your server to give you good ideas.
The service at this place is fantastic. They all seem to be Japanese, which is comforting in an American-owned sushi place. They are very attentive without hovering. The Boyfriend and I were having a rather fraught discussion at one point and our waiter managed to dart in and out without making us feel self-conscious. Plus he had clearly noticed us not loving some of the fish as we were eating, not just when he cleared up, and took care of us as best he could. I can’t praise our waiter enough. Also, other waiters were very helpful if we needed anything at all, such as chopsticks or the menu or whatever.
The lighting, decor and whole environment was great too. It’s a bit dim, so it’s romantic and sexy although still bright enough to see the menu. The outer room is brighter; we sat in the inner room which is a little darker. Everyone just seemed to be having a great time. I am definitely taking the Boyfriend back to try the honoo.
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $230 ($45 bottle of sake)
Noise Level: good, we could talk quietly across the table to each other
Chance of walking in: very little. Go early, very late (they’re open until 2am) or on weekdays if you hate waiting as I do.
Jumping Shoes said,
February 15, 2009 at 22:23
just wandered in….
Looking for another site, but cool site. Thanks….